Valve mechanism



Feb. 29, 1944. p, Q TEMPLE 2,342,770

' VALVE MECHANISM Filed July 31 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 3 gwww;

9' l v PAUL C. TEMPLE P. c. TEMPLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gin/nanny;

RAUL C. TEMPLE Patented Feb. 29, I

VALVE MECHANISM Paul C. Temple, Decatur, 111., assignmto A. W. I Cash Company, Decatur, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1941, Serial N0.'404,748

. 7 Claims.

This invention relates to valve mechanisms,

) and more particularly to valves adapted to control the operation of hydraulic motors.

It is one object of the invention to provide a valve mechanism of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction which is adapted to control a hydraulic motor and to lock the motor positively so that it cannot move in either direc: tion from a desired position. i

It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve mechanism of'the four-way type which is particularly suitable for manual operation and capable of controlling a hydraulic motor in an accurate and positive manner.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the'combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a section through a four-way valve .mechanism, the section being taken on the line |I of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the valve mechanism, with other apparatus connected thereto;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1, but showing the valve in a different position of adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the valve in a still different position of adjustment; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 3,-showing a slightly modified construction.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a main body l0 having heads II and IZ- secured to oppositesides thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a hollow casing. The head I2 is shaped to provide an inlet chamber I4 having an inlet opening I5. The body is shaped to provide an exhaust chamber l6 and two chambers l8 and I9 (Fig. 1). For lack of better terms, the chambers l8 and I9 will be respectively designated as raise and lower chambers. An exhaust opening 20 leads directly from the exhaust chamber l6, and two openings 22 and 23 communicate directly with the chambers 18 and I9 respectively. As indicated in Fig.2, the exhaust opening 20 may be connected by a pipe 24 to the bottom ofa tank or reservoir 26 containing a suitable operating fluid, such as oil. The opening 22 is connected by a pipe 21 to'the lower end of an upright cylpipe 30' to the upper end of this same cylinder. Within the'cylinder there is provided a slidable piston 31 having a piston rod 32. Oil is withdrawn from the tank 26' through a-pipe 34 by means of a pump 35 and delivered through a pipe 36 to the inlet opening I5. The pump may be driven by any suitable source of power. The piston rod 3| may be connected to any apparatus or device which is to be actuated thereby.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that the body I I) is provided with a cylindrical bore 38 which extends therethrough between the 'two heads II and I2. Within the bore is a valve 39 which is rotatably supported in two axially spaced ball bearings 40 mounted in the respective end portions of the bore. A stem 42 extends axially outward from one end of the valve and through the head II, the outer end of this stem having a handle 43 thereon, so that the valve may be turned about its axis. This handle is provided, with 9. lug 45 which is located between two stops 46 and 41 (Fig. 2) on the head H, so arranged as to limit the movements of the valve to approximately ninety degrees. The central portion of the valve is provided with a radially ex-.

tending port 49 which connects with an axial passage 50 leading directly into the inlet chamber l4. In the direction 'of the port 49 the valve Three ports are provided in the wall of the,

bore 38. A port 52 connects the exhaust chainber IS with the bore, and two ports 53 and 54 are located at opposite/sides of the port 52. The

ports 53 and 54 are preferably of substantially the same length in the axial direction as the valveport 49, whereas the port 52 is considera- .bly longer so that it will remain in free commu .,nication with the bore regardless of the valve position. These parts are so arranged that with the galve in its central or. neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1, the valve port 49 will register with-the'exhaus't port 52. If the valve is turned in a clockwise direction until the lug 45 engages the stop 41, the valve port 49 will register with the port 54, as shown in Fig. 5. Similarly, if the valve is turned in a counter-clockwise direction until the lug 45 engages the stop 48, the valve port 49 will register with the port 53. The valve port 49 is somewhat wider circumferentially than the ports 53 and 54 so that,.as indicated in Fig.

inder 28, and the opening 23 is connected by a '55 4, the full travel of the valve is not required to aflord full port opening. The purpose or this construction will bemade apparent hereinafter. Referring now to Fig. 1, it wiiibe seen that the port 88 is connected with the "lower" chamber II by a passage 88 which is controlled by a reciprocable check valve I] of theseating type arranged to open in the direction of flow toward the chamber 18.. This valve is biased toward its closed position by a coiled compression spring 58. Similarly, the port 54 is connected with the raise" chamber 18 by a passage 88 which is controlled by a reciprocable check valve 8| the seating type arranged to open in the direction of flow toward the chamber I8. This valve 8| is biased toward its closed position by a coiled compression spring 62. The two check valves 51 an 6i are located on opposite sides of the bore 8! and arranged to reciprocate in a common line which intersects the axis of the rotary valve 3! at right angles. Each check valve opens in adi rection away from the bore 88.

The check valves are operated automatically through the medium of .a positive mechanical connection in response to movements of the rotary valve' 39. For'this purpose a cam 64 is formed on the outer surface of the rotary valve, within the bore 88, and two slidable pins 65 and t6 exte d radially into the bore from the valves 51 and I respectively. These parts are so constructed and arranged that when the rotaryvalve is turned in a clockwise direction from its neutral position, the cam 64 will engage the pin 55 and push the same outwardly, thereby opening the check valve'51. Similarly, if the rotary valve is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the cam will engage the pin 86 and push it outwardly, opening the check valve 8! In order to facilitate the operation or the apparatus, an indexing roller 88 is provided to engage'the cam. This roller is mounted on the inner end of a plunger 89 which isslidable in a radial bore 10 formed in the body it directly opposite the exhaust port 52 and communicating with the bore 38. This plunger is urged inwardly by a coiled compression spring H. The cam 64 is shaped to provide a low point I3, 'whlch may be notched as shown, located directly opposite the valve port 49 and arranged to been gaged by the roller 68 when the valve 39 is in its neutral position. At opposite sides of this low point there are high points 14 and 1.5 which are arranged to pass slightly beyond the center of the roller when the valve is moved to its respective extreme positions as determined'by the stops 4G and 41.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. With the valve 89 in its central or neutral position, as shown in Fig. 1, both of the check valves 51 and 8| will be held closed by their respective springs 58 and 82. Since these check valves are of the seating type,

, they will be free from leakage, and no oil can escape from either end of the cylinder 28. Hence ment in either direction. 011 from the'pump will circulate freely to the exhaust through the valve port 49 and the exhaust port 52. If now the rotary valve is turned in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cam 64 will auar'zo oil can escape from the upper end of the cylinder 28 to the exhaust. Hence the piston 3| will be raised. If the handle 43 is released,, the rotary valve will be returnedto neutral position by the action of the spring Ii and roller 68 on the cam 64, since the point lihas not quite reached the position at which maximum spring deflection occurs. If, however, the valve is turned still further .in a clockwise direction until the lug engages the stop 41, the point 15 will pass the position at which maximum spring deflection occurs, and the eflect willbe to hold the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 5 until they are reversed by the'application of force to the handle. The direction of fluid flow will be the same in Fig. 5 as in Fig. 4. ,I'he valves and ports are of symmetrical construction, and it will be apparout that by turning the rotary valve in a counter-clockwise direction, the flow of oilwiil be such as to lower the piston 3|. Furthermore, if the handle is moved the full distance permitted by the stop 46, the valve will remain stationary without holding the handle, whereas if the parts are stopped somewhat short of the full distance they will return to neutral'upon release of the handle.

In case the pump 35 is to supply oil for the operation of other apparatus besides the piston 3|, it may be desirable to maintains. pressure in the oil even when the rotary valve is in neutral position. For this purpose, as; shown in Fig. 6, the body In may be shaped to provide a wall 88 which closes the exhaust port 52 except for the end portions thereof. Thus when the rotary valve is in its neutral position this wall 80 will prevent the escape of oil fromthe valve port 49, and the oil in the inlet chamber l4 may be maintained at a sufllciently high pressure to operate the other apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

LA valve mechanism comprising a casing which one of the passages is connected with the inlet chamber and the other passage is connect- .ed with the exhaust chamber, a seating-type nections from the manually operable valve to the check valves and effective, when either passage is connected with the inlet chamber, to open the check valve in the other passage;

2. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide an inlet chamber, an exhaust chamber, a "raise chamber, and a lower chamber, two passages communicating with the raisef arid "lower"- chambers respectively, a manually rotatable valve mounted in the casing and having a neutral position in which neither passage is connected with the inlet chamber and two operative positions in eachof which one of the passages is connected with the inlet chamber and the other passage is connected with the exhaust chamber, the neutral position being intermediate the'two operative positions, a seating-type check valve in each passage and arfrom the inlet chamber through the ranged to be opened automatically by fluid flow from the inlet chamber through the passage, the

check valves being biased toward their closedpositions, and-means providing positive mechanical connectionsvirom the rotatable valve to the check valves and eflective, when either passage is connected with the inlet chamber, to open the check valve in the other passage.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a casing I shapedto provideoan inlet chamber, an exhaust having two operative positions ineach of which one of the passages is connected with the inlet passage is connected with the inlet chamber and two operative positions in each of which one of the passages is connected with the inlet chamwhen either passage is connected with the inletchamber and the other passage is connected with the exhaust chamber, the neutral position being intermediate the two operative positions, a seating-type check valve in each passage and arranged to be opened automatically by fluid flow from the inlet chamber through the passage, the check valves being biased toward their closed positions, and means providing positive mechanical connections from the manually operable valve to the check valves and eiIective, when either passage is connected with the inlet chamber, to open the' check valve in the other passage.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide an inlet chamber, an exhaust chamber, a raise chamber, and a lower" raise" and "lower chambers respectively. a manually operable valve mounted in the casing and having a neutral position in which the inlet chamber is connected neither with the exhaust chamber nor with either or said passages and two operative positions in each of which one or the passages is connected with the inlet chamber and the other passage is connected with the exhaust chamber, the neutral position being intermediate the two operative positions, a seating-type check valve in each passage and arranged to be opened automatically by fluid flow the check valves being biased toward their closed positions, and means providing positive mechanical connections from the manually operable valve to the check valves and eil'ective, when s5 chamber, two passages communicating with the y manually rotatable valve mounted in the casing and having a neutral position in which neither ber and the other passage is connectedwith-the exhaust chamber, the neutral position being in- I termediate the two operative positions, a seatingtype check valve in each passage and arranged to be opened automatically by fluid flow from the inlet chamber through the passage, the check valves being biased toward their closed positions, and a cam on the rotatable valve and effective,

chamber, to open the check valvein the other passage.

6. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide a bore, an inlet chamber, an exhaust chamber, a raise chamber, and a lower chamber,- two passages connecting thebore with the raise" chamber and the lower" chamber respectively, a manually rotatable valve mounted in the bore and provided with an axial passage which connects with the 'inlet chamber and a port which extends radially outward from through the corresponding passage, the checkvalves being biased toward their closed positions, means providing positive mechanical connections from the rotatable valve to the check valves and effective, when the valve port is brought into registration with either of the said two passages, to open the check valve in the other of the said two passages, and a port connecting the exhaust chamber with the bore.

- 7. A valve mechanism comprising a casing shaped to provide a bore, an inlet chamber, an exhaust chamber, a chamber, and a low-- er chamber, two passages connecting the bore with the raise chamber and the "lower chamber respectively, a manually. rotatable valvemounted in the bore and provided with anaxial passage which connects with the inlet chamber and a port which extends radially outward from the axial passage, the valve port being adapted ranged to engage the pins and eilective, when the valve port is brought into registration with either of the said two ea to open the check valve in the other of thesaid two a port connecting the exhaust chamber with the bore.

- PAUL C. 

